Thanks for the comments Richard Bridge and Bee-dubya-ee. Interesting.

Richard, I am mostly unplugged but wanted something that would work both ways. One thing that might be in my favour if it is a bit lacking in volume and the guitar does wind up in some of its intended situations is that for better or probably worse as for some things I think I ought to lighten up (or maybe learn to do both) is that I am fairly heavy handed with a pick.

I've been to a few quieter, mostly English and very easy standard sessions lately. One guy asked to try my mandolin as he though it much louder than his and another made a comment about my guitar being unusual in that melody lines (eg. speed the plough) could cut through and be heard.

The mandolin was one of those cheap Romanian jobs (which aren't bad on volume) and the guitar was a cheap concert bodied cutaway. I think they were the cheapest example of each instrument in the room and neither was the loudest. I guess years of trying to make mandolin melody heard along with things like pipes and boxes in noisy environments influenced my own playing.